1. Invitation for Competition Submissions
ISOVER Multi-Comfort House – Tower
International, two-stage, open competition
Content: Greenwich Tower in New York City
Participants: Students
Organizer: Saint-Gobain Insulation with the participation of
national Saint-Gobain ISOVER, CertainTeed and
IZOCAM organizations

2. Agenda
1. General information 3
1.1. Contents of the competition 3
1.2. Who can participate 3
1.3. Awarding organisation 3
1.4. Form and organisation of the competition 4
1.5. Prize money 4
1.6. Time schedule 5
1.7. National jury 5
1.8. International jury 5
1.9. Transport and travel expenses 5
1.10. Legal 6
2. Details of the task 6
2.1. Specifics of the urban context 7
2.2. Zoning requirements
2.3. Space allocation 7
2.4. Type of construction, technical parameters 7
2.4.1. Construction 7
2.4.2. Technical parameters for thermal insulation 8
2.4.3. Protection against overheating in summer 8
2.4.4. Technical parameters for fire protection 8
2.4.5. Technical parameters for sound insulation 8
2.5. Competition requirements 9
2.5.1. Minimum requirements 9
2.5.2. Optional requirements 10
2.6. Formalities for submission 10
2.7. General assessment criteria 10
3. Personal information sheet 12
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3. 1. General information
1.1. Contents of the competition
The world is becoming increasingly urban, and cities are becoming larger and more densely
populated. One consequence is that buildings containing a mix of activities on multiple levels
above and below the street are becoming more common. Tied to transportation networks,
these buildings also connect local and regional scales. Instead of draining street life, these
places extend and intensify the urban experience becoming “Microcosms of Urbanity”.
Greenwich South the part of American “mega city” New York City with its proximity to mass
transit, residential and commercial development, is an area that can foster and benefit from
this phenomenon.
At the same time the building sector consumes over 30% of total energy and is polluting the
atmosphere with related CO2 emissions. In New York City this percentage is even larger.
Energy used for building operations constitute up to 70% of the total demand. The exact
percentage may vary from country to country but the trend is clear.
With millions of square feet of LEED-certified development in the pipeline, excellent
walkability and superior transit access, Lower Manhattan already pursues strong green
ambitions. The density, diversity of use and significant development potential in Greenwich
South offer a rare opportunity to experiment with sustainability solutions on a district-wide
scale.
In order to remain ahead of the curve the new tower should become a leading project to
achieve new levels of sustainability in Greenwich and in the Central Business District of
Lower Manhattan.
The subject of the competition is the creative approach to the concept of energy efficient
construction for the high rise buildings. The aim is to design a multiple use tower according to
ISOVER Multi-Comfort-House definition and with passive house components.
The documentation about Multi-Comfort-House design principles will be provided from local
ISOVER, CertainTeed and Izocam organizations.
1.2. Who can participate
Participants are the students of architecture, design and construction engineering from
universities in all countries with ISOVER, CertainTeed and Izocam presence.
Participation may be as an individual or in teams of up to 3 persons.
Only one project may be submitted per person.
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4. 1.3. Awarding organization
The awarding organisation is Saint-Gobain Insulation with the participation of national Saint-
Gobain ISOVER, CertainTeed and Izocam organizations.
Contact to Saint-Gobain Insulation:
Gabriel Golumbeanu
Saint-Gobain ISOVER
18, avenue d'Alsace,
92400 Courbevoie / France
Tel.: 0033 (0)1.47.62.40.38 / Fax: 0033 (0) 1.47.62.50.48 / Mobile: 0033 (0) 6.78.41.88.59
Email: gabriel.golumbeanu@saint-gobain.com
The contact details for the local ISOVER, CertainTeed and Izocam organization can be found
on www.isover-students.com under Contacts > ISOVER, IZOCAM and CertainTeed.
1.4. Form and organization of the competition
The competition will have a two-stage process.
The first stage is the national contest in each respective country, where the three best entries
will be chosen. The first, second and third placed submissions will receive an award at a
presentation ceremony.
In the second stage, the three best entries from each country will participate in an
international final. This will take place at a gala in Prag (Czech Republic) to which the
entrant(s) who submitted the project and their professor(s) will be invited. During this event
the participating projects will be displayed at the exhibition for inspection and discussion.
Furthermore, the authors of the project will have the possibility to explain the concept of the
project during a five-minute presentation to the jury and all the participants.
These presentations will be followed by the jury’s deliberations and the award
ceremony for the winners.
An independent international jury will nominate the three international winners
1.5. Prize money
1st stage – national competition:
Information about the prizes on the national contest stage will be given by the local
ISOVER, CertainTeed or Izocam organizations.
2nd stage – international competition:
1st prize €1,500
2nd prize €1,000
3rd prize €750
The organizer may give also awards for special project performances.
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5. 1.6. Time schedule
National announcement of competition at the respective universities:
Beginning July - September 2010
Distribution of invitation for competition submissions as part of an information event:
Beginning July - October 2010
Closing date for submissions for the national competition:
March 21, 2011 in Universities (date subject to change)
National jury meeting and award ceremony:
Completed by April 23, 2011 (date subject to change)
International jury meeting and award ceremony:
May 18-21, 2011 in Prague, Czech Republic
Further information will also be provided at the lectures held at the participating Universities
by the national ISOVER, CertainTeed or Izocam Companies. For more information, please
contact your local ISOVER, CertainTeed or Izocam organizations who will provide you with
further details.
1.7. National jury
The selection of the national winners will be carried out by a national jury, consisting of
representatives of the faculties and employees of Saint-Gobain ISOVER, CertainTeed or
Izocam.
1.8. International jury
The international jury will consist of experts in passive house, buildings and architects. The
international jury will be announced at a later date.
1.9. Transport and travel expenses
The risks and costs of the submission of entries to the national awarding
organizations shall be taken over by the participants.
The forwarding of project documentation to the final international gala shall be carried out by
the respective national ISOVER, CertainTeed or Izocam Company. Furthermore, the
companies shall bear the entire travel costs, as well as the costs of accommodation and
lodgings for the participants at the international gala in Prague, Czech Republic.
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6. 1.10. Legal
Competition participants are hereby informed that the publication of the student projects, as
well as the photos taken of the participants at the contest and / or given to the organizer for
the contest, have to be accompanied with the transference of the photo and copyrights.
Therefore, competition participants shall retain unlimited copyright on their projects.
The submitted documentation shall become property of the organizer (Saint-Gobain
ISOVER, CertainTeed and Izocam).
The organizer shall, in addition, receive full rights of use and all participants implicitly agree
to the publication of their projects.
Furthermore, competition participants authorize the organizer (Saint-Gobain ISOVER,
CertainTeed and Izocam) to use and publish the existing photo material of the participant
(photos taken of the participant at the contest and/ or given by the participant to the organizer
for the contest) free of charge for an unlimited period of time and media publication. In the
case of publication, competition participants may not make any demands to the organizer
(Saint-Gobain ISOVER, CertainTeed and Izocam) or a third party.
The decision of the jury is final. All participants hereby accept the incontestable and definitive
nature of the jury’s decisions.
By participating in the competition, the students acknowledge and accept the conditions laid
out in this invitation for submissions.
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7. 2. Details of the task
The subject of the competition is the design of a sustainable sky scraper in a part of Lower
Manhattan called Greenwich South.
The building has to have the building physics performance of an ISOVER Multi-Comfort
House.
Beside constructional, the social and economic aspects also have to be considered and
respected as the building to be designed should give a new impulse in the existing urban
area. Apart from the building design you are expected to propose urban space solutions for
the immediate surroundings of the site.
2.1. Specifics of the urban context
Situated south of the World Trade Center site the urban space improvements that will be
achieved with the new structures at the 9/11 site triggered an increased attention for the
Greenwich area with its great yet undeveloped potential to add a significant amount to the
overall quality of Lower Manhattan.
Since the year 2000 a considerable amount of conversions and new residential units have
been executed in the area which underlines the heightened awareness as a living quarter.
Several studies have been commissioned, that propose to cover the existing Battery Tunnel
ramp and install a public accessible space on top which can be linked with Battery Park and
create a new heart of Greenwich South.
This new urban focus could link lower Manhattan on the north south axes via World Trade
Center site with Tribeca, West Village and the Meatpacking District. It also could improve
links between east (Financial District) and west (Battery Park South) with the demolition of
existing / blocking parking structures and an additional pedestrian cross walk over West
Sreet.
The overall development goals are: encourage an intense mix of uses (live, work recover and
play), reconnect Greenwich Street (link northern parts with Battery Park with Greenwich
Street as a spine), connect east and west, build for density – design for people (active
building bases), create a reason to come and a reason to stay (create icons that establish a
new identity and sense of place).
To complete the scene an iconic high rise will be needed in the axes to replace the existing
parking structure in the north and ad to an unique character of the place.
The site occupies the south portion of the block bounded by the Battery Tunnel to the South,
Washington Street to the West, Greenwich Street to the East, and Rector Street to the North
(the site of the existing concrete parking structure, which is assumed to be demolished).
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8. 2.2. Zoning Requirements
The new high rise is expected to have about 60 floors above a base of about 5 stories. Its
maximum horizontal size of each floor above the base should according to New York City
zoning regulations not exceed 175´ (about 53.34 m).
Due to the specifics of the immediate surroundings and the location of the new structure in a
widened spatial situation transfer development rights will apply and setbacks will not be
required.
A maximum distance to the existing high rise at the immediate north of the site has to be
secured.
2.3. Space allocation
Work, live, recover and play – there should be a programmatic differentiation between base
and tower.
Base - total floor area per floor: 4,500 m² maximum 5 floors / about 60´/18 m wall height
With the new development, the lower floors / bases should be strategically designed and
programmed for public use, transforming the public realm. While the tall new tower will define
the skyline of Greenwich South, the most critical component of the area´s new developments
will be how these buildings meet the ground.
Building design should be architecturally dynamic, offering energetic bases with a varying
array of public-oriented uses including retail, cultural and community functions.
New and inventive building designs should seek to address the pedestrian, not only on street
level, but also in the interstitial spaces created by changes in the topography across
Greenwich South.
Lower level developments including subway access on Greenwich Street to the no.1 subway
should be investigated.
1. Upper floors:
library, theater, medical, community, exhibition, restaurants, recovery, gym
2. Ground floor/lower floors:
retail, entrance lobby fashion hotel, entrance lobby student hotel, entrance lobby
residential
Immediate surrounding urban space should be included in the concept and external plans
shall be roughly designed.
Tower - total floor area per floor about 2,000 m²
1. ¼ fashion- and design-hotel:
Rooms (60% single rooms, 40% double rooms), showroom, dressing rooms,
conference rooms, kitchen, dining rooms, bath rooms
2. ¼ student design –hotel:
bunk beds (4 beds per room, private bathroom each), common kitchen for each 6
bedrooms, common dining rooms
3. ¼ residential
4. ¼ offices
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9. 2.4. Type of construction, technical parameters
The high-performance thermal, acoustic and fire protection requirements have to be
considered in order to achieve the ISOVER Multi-Comfort-House criteria.
In the course of the competition, lectures on the subject of “Passive-house planning and
construction” will be held at the faculties.
2.4.1. Construction
The bearing construction will be reinforced concrete and/or steel.
For the thermal, acoustic comfort and fire protection ISOVER, CertainTeed or Izocam
products should be specified.
ISOVER, CertainTeed and Izocam will provide free planning assistance in the form of a CD
containing construction details and sample constructions, as well as a brochure on Multi-
Comfort House concept and renovation which will be supplied together with the invitation for
submissions.
Additionally ISOVER, CertainTeed and Izocam contact persons are available to answer any
questions. The contact details for the local ISOVER, CertainTeed and Izocam organization
can be found on www.isover-students.com under Contacts > ISOVER, IZOCAM and
CertainTeed.
2.4.2. Technical parameters for thermal insulation
The U-values of the individual building components should meet the passive requirements
according to the PHHP (Passive House Planning Package, software developed by Passive
House Institute Darmstadt, Germany) in an economic way.
The participants have to establish Passive House Standard by PHPP for a group of some
useful coherent upper floors (3 - 4 floors)
You will find the individual ambient data for New York City for download in the competition
documents (www.isover-students.com).
2.4.3. Protection against overheating in summer
Sufficient sun protection needs to be planned.
In the project the ratio of transparent to opaque components also needs to be taken in
account. Furthermore the frequency of overheating of more than +25° or +77° indoor
C F
temperature must be less than 10%.
2.4.4. Technical parameters for fire protection
In the floor plan design and space organization attention must be given to the
construction of fire sections. In addition the emergency exits have to be considered.
Fire protection should achieve the US requirements:
- all bearing internal and external walls have to achieve at least REI 60 according to
ISO standards,
- the roof and ceilings have to achieve at least REI 60 according to ISO standards,
- all non-bearing internal walls between 2 different functional units (depending on the
function) have to achieve at least REI 30 according to ISO standards.
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10. 2.4.5. Technical parameters for sound insulation
Depending on the future function of the building parts the sound protection concept has to be
included. The airborne and impact sound insulation of the residential and nonresidential
building parts have to be planed according to ISOVER Acoustic Comfort Classes.
The room acoustics in the non-residential building part and the reverberation time depend on
the function.
Residential usage or similar function:
Airborne sound insulation between dwellings DnT,w ≥63 dB
Airborne sound insulation between the rooms in the dwelling (without the doors)
DnT,w ≥45 dB
Impact sound insulation between dwellings: LnT,w ≤ 40 dB
Impact sound insulation in the dwelling: LnT,w ≤ 50 dB
Non-residential usage of the building parts:
Airborne sound insulation for the exterior walls Rw ≥55 dB
Airborne sound insulation for the roof Rw ≥50 dB
Airborne sound insulation between special protected areas in the building Rw ≥55 dB
Airborne sound insulation for all ceilings Rw ≥55 dB
Impact sound insulation for all floors: LnT,w ≤ 45 dB
All ceilings in non-residential usage should be designed to comply with Sound
Absorption Class A to EN ISO 11654.
In practice, sufficient sound insulation for windows and doors, as well as for sanitary
installation and ventilation systems should be considered for residential and non-residential
usage.
2.5. Competition requirements
2.5.1. Minimum requirements (obligatory)
Following minimum requirements for descriptions and plans must be considered:
Descriptions
- Functional solution
- Description of the design concept
- Energy supply and overall sustainable concept (optionally with graphic illustration)
- Description of construction
- List of constructions with U-values
- Results of calculations
- Explanation of all thermal and acoustic properties in the table
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11. Plans
· Plan of site with solution public infrastructure / spaces 1:500
4 Elevations (East, West, North and South) 1:500
Cross Section 1:500
Base floor plans 1:500
· Tower floor plans of typical functions and cross-section 1:200
· Horizontal façade cross-section 1:50
Vertical façade cross-section 1:50
Strip view of façade 1:50
· Construction details 1:10
· 3D renderings and / or photos of a model
Design Report (2 pages A4 maximum )
2.5.2. Optionally documents
In addition, the following may also be submitted (optionally)
· Energy and ecology estimation (energy-pass, eco-pass)
· Usage of renewable energy systems
· Accessibility
2.6. Formalities for submission
For the national stage of the contest the projects should be submitted in maximum 3 posters
format measuring 84 x120 cm, and additionally in digital form on a CD.
The poster should be clear and legible and show the project title as well as the name of the
drafter (or all names in the case of a team submission).
The personal information sheet, which is attached to this invitation for submissions, should
also be handed in.
For the international stage of the contest the following documents are obligatory:
- One power point presentation (max. 10 MB, duration 5 minutes),
- The digital presentation of the project in the format 180 cm x 80 cm (height x width)
for the roll walls and exhibition in Prague
- The CD with content above (presentation, graphics for roll walls), personal
pictures and personal data sheet of the team.
This data will be used for inclusion in the edition of the book “ISOVER Multi-Comfort House
Students Competition - Best of the Projects 2011”.
2.7. General assessment criteria
Design and functional concept:
- Idea and creative approach to the structure of the building,
- Functionality and quality of formal design,
- Connection to the existing urban area.
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12. ISOVER Multi-Comfort-House:
- Energy consumption concept (passive house technology) for a group of useful
coherent upper floors ( 3-4 floors ), see pt. 2.4.2
- Thermal quality of the building envelope,
- Summer comfort,
- Passive and active solar gains,
- Acoustic comfort
Sustainability:
- Economical, ecological and social aspects of the future function and the impact of the
design quality
- Exposure and lighting concept,
- Green space design,
- Accessibility,
- Implementation of the renewable energy sources.
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13. 3. Personal information sheet
ISOVER Multi-Comfort-House Students competition 2011 – Tower
Participant(s):
Name: Signature:
Address:
Telephone:
Post Code:
Bank account number:
Bank identification number:
Bank:
Additional participants (for project teams):
Name: Signature:
Address:
Telephone:
Post Code:
Name: Signature:
Address:
Telephone:
Post Code:
Name: Signature:
Address:
Telephone:
Post Code:
With their signature, the participants confirm their authorsation of the submitted
project.
Place, date:
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